BEP Performance Analysis of Multi-Node Self Encoded Spread Spectrum - Cooperative Diversity in Rayleigh Fading Channel

Self - encoded spread spectrum (SESS) is a novel modulation technique th at acquires its spreading sequence from the random input data stream rather than through the use of the traditional pseudo - noise code generator. It has been incorporated with multi node cooperative diversity systems as a means to combat fading in wireless channels. In this paper we analyze the cooperative SESS for Amplify and Forward CD links ( M SESS - AFCD) and SESS for Decode and forward CD links ( M SESS - DFCD) in Rayleigh fading channels. The BE P expressions are derived in closed form, and the veracity of the analysis is confirmed by numerical calculations that demonstrate excellent agreement with simulation results

A Study of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Elderly Population: Social, Clinical, Radiological and Microbiological Aspects

Studies on pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly are gaining importance globally, in view of increase in the longevity and their immunological susceptibility to tuberculosis. The present report deals with pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly with special emphasis on the socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory aspects. A total of ninety elderly (Males = 70 & Females = 20, mean age 63.7 years) subjects who satisfied a rigid set of inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed with respect to the objectives after obtaining institutional ethical clearance and informed consent. Data were analyzed statistically. It was observed from this study that elderly men suffered from tuberculosis more than the elderly women and about 90% of them were smokers. Most of the subjects were diagnosed to have tuberculosis only three months after the onset of illness with the commonest symptoms, being cough and breathlessness. About 75% of the study population had anemia with body mass index lower than the Indian standards. Involvement of both lungs was common with infiltrative pattern more frequently observed than cavitatory pattern in the X-ray chest. 5% of the study population had military tuberculosis. 21% of the study population had diabetes mellitus where these patients had significantly involvement of lower lobe of lung and infiltrative pattern. Radiological findings were not influenced by gender and smoking. Sputum positive status was observed in 53 % of cases. In view of the increased prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly and multiple reasons for the susceptibility, clinicians should suspect pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly with cough and breathlessness and treat them accordingly after identifying associated co morbid status

A PROSPECTIVE SINGLE-BLINDED STUDY ON THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the serum zinc (Zn) levels, safety, and efficacy of Zn supplementation in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients.Methods: A randomized single-blinded study of two groups: Group A received conventional TB therapy while Group B received conventional TB therapy along with 15 mg of Zn tablet. 40 patients were assigned in each group by randomized permuted blocks.Results: After 8 weeks of treatment in Group A 27 patients and Group B 36 patients were found to be sputum negative with p=0.0421 and 0.0629. After 24 weeks of treatment in Group A 37 patients and Group B 40 patients were found to be sputum negative with p=0.00976 and 0.00971. By this, the given treatment was effective in the patients with PTB.Conclusion: Zn supplementation improves the effect of TB medication treatment and results in earlier sputum smear conversion

ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROADENOMA

ABSTRACTObjective: Health problems can interfere with even the most basic aspects of daily living. Health-related quality of life (QoL) is an assessment of howthe individual's well-being may be affected over time by a disease, disability, or disorder. Fibroadenomas of the breast are benign tumors composedof stromal and epithelial tissue.Methods: The study will be carried out by the collection and documentation of general information of the patient including personal history, familybackground, clinical findings, investigations, and medical illness associated with fibroadenoma. Further, QoL will be documented using SF-12questionnaire designed to assess the impact of fibroadenoma and their complications.Results and Discussion: Out of 130 female patients, 112 patients (86%) were married and 18 patients (14%) were unmarried; the study confirmsthat married women are more affected with fibroadenoma than unmarried. The results indicate that physical component summary (PCS) doesnot improve significantly, but the mental component summary (MCS) improves significantly after counseling. PCS and MCS have been significantlyimproved in post-menopausal women. MCS is improved pre-menopausal women.Conclusion: The study concludes that PCS does not improve significantly, but MCS improves significantly after counseling in pre- and post-menopausalwomen. Therefore, after counseling, patient's physical health, social relationships, and environment have been improved.Keywords: Quality of life, Fibroadenoma, Counseling

Bacterial colonization of stethoscope used in the tertiary care teaching hospital: a potential source of nosocomial infection

Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAI) are a major problem in each hospital. HAI remains a significant hazard for hospitalized patients and health care workers are potential sources of these infections. Health care workers can transmit pathogens through their hands and contaminated medical devices such as stethoscopes, Blood pressure cuff etc. Hence we intended to determine the level of bacterial contamination of stethoscopes using in present hospital.Methods: Total of 50 stethoscopes were sampled before and after cleaning with 70% isopropyl alcohol by using sterile swab soaked in sterile saline. Samples were processed as per standard microbiological procedures.Results: Out of 50 stethoscopes, 30 (60%) stethoscopes were showing significant bacterial colonization, 7 (14%) showed insignificant colonization, and in 13 (26%) stethoscopes no growth was observed. The bacteria isolated were Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aurues (MRSA) (14%), Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (12%), Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CNS) (14%), Klebsiella species (20%).Conclusions: Our study concluded that stethoscopes used by health care workers were colonized by both pathogens and non-pathogenic microorganisms. Strict protocol of cleaning the stethoscopes in between the patients will eliminate the colonization and there by spread of infections

Determination and uncertainty analysis of inorganic arsenic in rice by UHPLC-ICPMS

The present study arose from the need of to determine inorganic arsenic (iAs) at low levels in rice. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ICPMS) using Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) mode to eliminate spectral interferences was used for analysis of iAs. Sample preparation involves extraction of inorganic arsenic (sum of As3+ and As5+) with water by heating at 90 °C for 5 min in water bath. Separation is accomplished with a reversed-phase ion pack column using a gradient chromatographic method followed by ICPMS analysis within 5 min. The method was validated in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 836/2011 and performance characteristics were verifi ed. Acceptable values were obtained for specifi city, repeatability (HorRatr < 0.6), within-lab reproducibility (HorRatR < 0.3) with recovery 80-90%, limit of quantifi cation (0.02 mg/ kg), fi tness-for-purpose and trueness (using CRM); thus, the method can be considered for offi cial control purposes

Efficacy of some bio-control agent formulations on scab of cowpea and groundnut late leaf spot in the Nigerian savanna

Field experiment on fungicidal efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus cereus formulations against cowpea scab and groundnut late leaf spot was conducted. The trials were conducted in 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons on two farms of the Institute for Agricultural Research located at Samaru, Zaria (110 12′ N, 070 37′ E) in the Northern Guinea savanna and Minijbir, Kano (08031' E., l20 03' N) in the Sudan savanna. The formulations were applied as seed treatment, foliar spray and also incorporated into the soil by broadcasting the powdered formulations on the ridges. The experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times with five treatments which consisted of the three formulations, Funguforce (Mancozeb + Carbendazim) and control. Data were taken on plant emergence, pod yield, disease incidence and severity. Irrespective of the treatments, incidence of scab at both Samaru and Minjibir were at par. However, Funguforce application gave lowest mean scab severities of 10% and 8.5% at Minjibir and Samaru respectively in 2017. In 2016 at Samaru, P. fluorescens had the lowest incidence (50.57 %) while B. cereus had the lowest severity (14.40 %) of groundnut late leaf spot. At Minjibir however, T. harzianum recorded the lowest incidence (48.75 %) and severity (18.22 %). The incidence and severity of groundnut late leaf spot at Samaru in 2017 did not significantly vary while at Minjibir lowest incidence (9.77 %) and severity (9.73 %) were recorded on Funguforce. The microbial formulations recorded an average pod yield increase of 10 – 58 % which was comparable with that of Funguforce. The use of formulations of T. harzianum, P. fluorescens and B. cereus in the management of fungal diseases of cowpea and groundnut in the Nigerian savanna is therefore recommended.Keywords: Genetic-crosses, RILs, Polymorphisms, Genetic-Markers, EP

Primary systemic amyloidosis: a case report

Primary amyloidosis is a group of monoclonal plasma cell disorders, characterized by extracellular deposition of immunoglobulin light chain fibrils in multiple organs leading to progressive multiorgan dysfunction. It is a rare disease which usually occurs in elderly persons and has a poor prognosis. We report a 72-year-old male patient with chronic abdominal distension, bilateral pitting pedal edema with nephrotic range proteinuria and amyloid deposition in liver and bone marrow. Immunoelectrophoresis of serum demonstrated the presence of immunoglobulin light chains of the circulating monoclonal protein. He was treated with IV bortezomib and IV dexamethasone

Air-Sea Interaction in the Bay of Bengal

Recent observations of surface meteorology and exchanges of heat, freshwater, and momentum between the ocean and the atmosphere in the Bay of Bengal are presented. These observations characterize air-sea interaction at 18°N, 89.5°E from December 2014 to January 2016 and also at other locations in the northern Bay of Bengal. Monsoonal variability dominated the records, with winds to the northeast in summer and to the southwest in winter. This variability included a strong annual cycle in the atmospheric forcing of the ocean in the Bay of Bengal, with the winter monsoon marked by sustained ocean heat loss resulting in ocean cooling, and the summer monsoon marked by strong storm events with dark skies and rain that also resulted in ocean cooling. The spring intermonsoon was a period of clear skies and low winds, when strong solar heating and weak wind-driven mixing led to ocean warming. The fall intermonsoon was a transitional period, with some storm events but also with enough clear skies and sunlight that ocean surface temperature rose again. Mooring and shipboard observations are used to examine the ability of model-based surface fluxes to represent air-sea interaction in the Bay of Bengal; the model-based fluxes have significant errors. The surface forcing observed at 18°N is also used together with a one-dimensional ocean model to illustrate the potential for local air-sea interaction to drive upper-ocean variability in the Bay of Bengal